DELTACAL DC1 Air Flow Calibrator (1.5 - 19.5 LPM)

The "Gold Standard" Venturi-Based Transfer Standard for FRM/FEM Sampler Audits

The Mesa Labs DeltaCal® (DC1 Model) is the industry's benchmark for conducting field calibrations and audits of particulate matter samplers. Engineered by BGI (now Mesa Labs), this precision volumetric air flow calibrator combines NIST-traceable accuracy with a rugged, all-weather design capable of operating in extreme environments ranging from -30°C to +55°C.

Specifically designed for the 1.5 to 19.5 LPM flow range, the DC1 model is the primary tool for validating Federal Reference Method (FRM) samplers, including PM2.5 and PM10 instruments running at the critical 16.67 LPM setpoint. Unlike fragile bubble meters or piston calibrators that struggle in the field, the DeltaCal® utilizes a static Venturi-based system with no moving parts, ensuring drift-free performance and superior reliability during roadside or remote site inspections.

Key Benefits

• Audit-Ready Precision: Delivers volumetric flow accuracy within 0.75% of the reading, meeting the stringent requirements for US EPA and EU regulatory sampler audits.

• All-Weather Reliability: Designed for the reality of environmental monitoring, the system functions flawlessly in freezing winter conditions (-30°C) and scorching summer heat (+55°C), where electronic piston meters often fail.

• Zero Moving Parts: The Venturi technology eliminates pumps and pistons, resulting in a completely silent operation with no mechanical wear, ensuring a long operational lifespan and minimal maintenance.

• Total Audit Solution: Simultaneously measures and displays volumetric flow, barometric pressure, and ambient temperature on a single screen—removing the need to carry separate meteorological sensors to the site.

Technical Overview

The DeltaCal® DC1 employs a precision-machined Venturi measurement head. As air is drawn through the device by the sampler's pump, the system detects the differential pressure across the Venturi throat. An onboard microprocessor continuously samples the integrated ambient temperature and barometric pressure sensors to calculate the true volumetric flow rate in real-time.

DC1 Specific Capabilities:

The DC1 model is optimized for the 1.5 – 19.5 LPM range. This specific dynamic range covers the operational flow rates of the vast majority of regulatory air samplers, specifically:

• 16.67 LPM (1 m³/hr): The standard flow rate for PM10, PM2.5, and PM-Coarse FRM samplers (e.g., Partisol, PQ200).

• Typical Speciation Flows: Suitable for SASS and other chemical speciation samplers operating within the low-to-medium flow band.

Data Handling:

The unit features a simple "one-switch" operation. Data is viewable on a continuous LCD display and can be logged internally. The system includes software for downloading calibration reports, streamlining the chain of custody for quality assurance audits.

Typical Use Cases

• Regulatory Compliance Audits: Field verification of PM2.5 and PM10 Federal Reference Method (FRM) samplers to ensure data validity.

• Network Calibration: Monthly multipoint flow calibration of air quality monitoring networks (Low-Volume Samplers).

• Speciation Sampling: Verifying flow rates for chemical speciation trends and source apportionment studies.

• Extreme Climate Monitoring: Calibrating instruments in high-altitude, arctic, or desert environments where standard lab calibrators cannot function.

Why Choose This Calibrator?

The DeltaCal® DC1 is not just a tool; it is the reference standard against which air quality networks are judged. Its Venturi-based physics offer an inherent stability that electronic alternatives cannot match in the field. When your data defensibility depends on the accuracy of your flow control, the DeltaCal provides the NIST-traceable certainty required by government agencies and scientific bodies worldwide. It is the "workhorse" of the air monitoring industry—robust, simple, and impeccably accurate.

Specifications

• Measured Components:

  Volumetric Air Flow, Ambient Temperature, Barometric Pressure.

• Applications:

  Field calibration and auditing of PM2.5/PM10 FRM samplers, speciation samplers, and low-volume air monitoring equipment.

• Certifications:

  NIST-Traceable Calibration; CE Marked; Meets US EPA transfer standard requirements for PM2.5/PM10.

• Measurement Principle:

  Venturi-based (differential pressure) hydro-dynamic system with active temperature and pressure compensation.